Store-shelving.



R. R. BELCHER.

sume sHELvlNG.

I APPLICATION FILED SEPT|1519-15 1 ,246,844. Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

RALPH nor BELCHER, or BAINBEIDGE, GEORGIA.

To all whom/.t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RALPH ROY BELCHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bainbridge, in the county of Decatur and 'State of Georgia, have invented newv and useful Improvements in Store-Shelving, of

. whichthe following is a speciiication.

The present invention relates to store shelving, and has for its object toprovide a light, easily assembled shelf structure which may be conveniently erected either against the wall of a store or, if desired, in mid-floor position, provision being made whereby the necessary rigidity in structure and stabilitv will be secured .regardless of the particular location of the shelving,

whether against the vwail or in mid-floor position. l In the drawings which accompanyand forma part of this disclosure, I have shown one embodiment ofl my invention, but thel disclosure is illustrative only and in no sense restrictive of the invention, as it is obvious that changes may be made within the skill ofl the mechanic without departino' from the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved shelving..

Fig. 2 isa view partly in section to show the engagement o the uprights andthe shelf supports..

'-Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bracket j for the shelf support.'

'Fig 4 is a 'perspective view of a shelf support.

Figs. 5 and 6 aredetailed sectional views to show the shelving and shelf support.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, like numbers indicating like parts in the several views, 10 denote the upright-s which are utilized in my construction, these uprights being formed of metal bars of suit-- f able gage, and in the particular form shown herein the bars are L-shapedl in cross section, although, obviously, the matter of the 'cross section of the bars is not' material, although by using an L-sh'aped bar, or at least bars having angularly disposed webs or anges, a very rigid upright of comparatively light metal may be secured.

The-bars composing the uprights 10 are slightly spaced, as shown, to receive bracket arms 11., which bracket arms andthe two members of the uprights are fastened together by through bolts or rivets 12 these Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 11H7.

Application filed September 15, 1915. Serial'No. 51,835.

lbrackets 11 being spaced from one another to give the required shelf spacing, and if vdesired the uprights may be drilled at diiferent points, so as to permit adjustment of the'brac-kets vertically to provide for variati'on in shelf spacing.

The brackets 11 which are preferably cast, although they may be forgedor formed in any 'desired manner, are provided with vertically disposed ribs 14, which, when the bracket 11 is slipped'into place between the members of the uprights 10, will take a firm bearing against the edges of the uprights,

and when the bolts or rivets 12 are tightened` insure the maintenance of the bracket in` an immovable horizontal position.

Preferably, vthe rear or entering end of the bracket 11 will depend, as shown, sothat such depending end will lie close to the next bracket below, and a projection 15 'will be formed at this depending end against which the rear end of the shelf supportl 16 will bear, as shown in Fig. 2 when such 'shelf support is in place.

The shelf supports 16 are removably mounted on the supporting brackets and-are preferably formed, .as shown, ofT-shaped angle iron, the T-flange being removed at the. rear end of the support 16 so ,that the vertical web of the support 16 may be en tered between the members ofthe uprights 10 and be supported` thereby with the rearv end 4of the shelf support 16 bearing against the projection 15 so as to maintain it in horizontal osition. The

support 16 will rest upon t e bracket 11,

and in order to prevent displacement of the support I preferably provide a notch 17 in the web of the support, which notch Yis engaged by a nose or projection 18 at the forward end of the bracket 11.

-The `supports may be readily engaged and disengaged in the manner shown in Fi'g. 2 by simply entering the cut-away end of the support between the members of the uprights 10 until it has engaged beneath the projection 15 on the bracket above, whereupon itwillbe dropped into its horizontal position with the projection 15 on the ios bracket engaging the notch 17 in the shelf v support, there being suiiicient clearance betweenthe brackets as mounted in the upg rights to'permit the shelf supports to readily put in place and unshipped as desired. i

The said shelf support 1G has at its for` BEST AvAaAsLE coP enter holes 20 formed in the Teliange of the shelf support 16, the shelf sections 16 being cut to the pro er length so that their ends will meet on t e T-flange of the shelf supports 16 and the dowel pins 19 engage in the holes 20 in such shelf supports and will not only maintain the shelves in proper position but will serve to give rigidity to the entire structure.

At the lower end of the uprightsv 10, I provide cross braces 21 which are formed of light metal with their ends bolted or riveted to the uprights at 22, these cross braces at the lower ends of the uprights, together with the structure upright in event of its not'bein arranged adjacent to and fastened to a wa l, I provide the bracin frames 23 which are preferably formed o substantially X- shape, as shown, one leg being fastened by a suitable bolt orrivet to the lower end of the upright, andthe other leg having a foot 24 adapted to rest upon the floor at a distance from the upright and be there secured by a screw, or in any other suitable manner, and, if desired, this X-shaped brace mayr be provided with a shelf support to form a broadworking shelf, the shelf 23 resting on top of the X-shaped brace. `With the X-shaped brace attached to the upright and secured to the Hoor as described, the uprights and shelves will be securely held against tipping or displacement, and the necessity for special settings or foundations for l the shelving done away with, as it isobvious it may be erected in j '-anymid-floor space and securely fastened.

It will be obvious that the brackets 11 maybe made of any'length desired, dependent on the spacing ofthe shelving. If wide spacing of the shelving vertically is desirable, the bracket will be relatively'long, as

shown in full lines in Fig. 3, but if the shelving is to be more closely spaced, then as indicated `in dotted lines, the bracket will be correspondingly shortened.

I do not limit myselftothe exact mechanical details shown,"a`s other expedients within, the range of iii-y invention may be adopted without departing from the principles thereof.

- lVhatIclaimisQ-L 'i l l.- The Combination 1n store'shelving. ofa Y plurality of uprights, a shelf support'projecting from each of said uprights at the upper part thereof, a shelf mountedon said supports and coupled therewith to effectively brace said uprights, braces connecting plurality of uprights, a shelf support pro- 7 jecting from each of said uprights at the upper part thereof, a shelf mounted on said supports and coupled therewith to effectively brace said uprights, cross-braces connecting said uprights at the lower part thereof, and cross-braces extending outwardly from each of said uprights and each provided with a supporting foot adapted to rest upon the floor .1n advance of said uprights.

3. In a store shelving construction, and in combination, an upright formed of spacedapart bars, a plurality of brackets mounted between said bars and having projecting wings to abut' the front edges of said bars, and shelf supports having reduced rear ends to engage the inter-space between said bars resting upon said brackets.

. 4. In a store shelvin construction, and in combination, an uprig t formed of spacedapart bars, a plurality of brackets mounted between said bars and having projections at their lower ends, shelf supports having reduced rear ends adapted t0 be entered between said spaced bars and engage the projection at the lower end of a bracket, and means for locking said shelf supports to said brackets against horirf-ontal movement.

5. In store shelving construction. and in combination, an upright formed of spacedapartv bars, a bracket mounted between said bars and having a forwardly projecting supporting member' provided with an interlock- `ing projection, a shelf support engaging between said bars and resting upon said 11@ bracket, said shelf support having a notch to engage said bracket projection and lock it against horizontal movement. f

6. In store shelving construction, and in combination. anupright formed of spacedapart bars, a plurality of brackets mounted between saidy bars. said brackets being cutaway at'their lower ends to form a receivmg space for a shelf support and having an lower end of said bracket to en age a s helf support, and a supporting mem er pro]ect-, ing forwardly rom said body portion and having means to interlock with a shelf sup-v ort. p 8.. A bracket for store shelving formed of a rela-tively thin web, setting ribs extending at aiygles from said web, an abutment projectingfrom the lower end of said web on o'ne side of said ribs, a shelf supporting member extendin on the other side of said ribs, and an intercking projection on said lastnamed member adapted to engage with a shelf support.

Copia;- ot this patent may be obtained for veeents each, by addressing the Washington, D. c.

9. A shelf support for, store shelying .formed of substantially T-shaped angle iron, said su port having the horizontal my hand in presence of two subscribing witmesses.

RALPH ROY BELCHER. Witnesses JNo.'T. MGGUDEN,

,l A. S. MpBnIDE.

"Commissioner of Patents, 

